64 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS.* 



IT is always a pleasant task to bestow praise, it is 

 seldom a welcome one to find fault. Eidelity 

 is a virtue which is expected when' jndgment is 

 solicited, and if the verdict is not agreeable, the 

 evidence, and not the judge, is to blame, if he is 

 called upon to decide according to evidence, and 

 does so faithfully. The book before us comes with 

 a good prestige in the name at the bottom of the 

 title-page ; there was room enough for a good book 

 on the subject, and one big enough for the purpose 

 has been produced. Acquainted, as we are, with 

 the splendid microscopical plates of the brothers 

 Tulasne, and in our own country with the work of 

 Tuffen West, it was not too much to hope that a new 

 work on microscopical objects would possess some 

 of the artistic merits of these men. Alas ! that we 

 should be so grievously disappointed. This volume 

 contains just two hundred figures of microscopical 

 objects, not always selected with the most judicious 

 care, seldom executed with skill. Eig. 13S is said to 

 be the " Meadow Blue Butterfly." {Polyommatus 

 Alexis), natural size. It is fortunate that the letter- 

 press is opposite to the figure, or the lepidopterist 

 would fail to recognize it, although it is of the 

 "natural size." We will not stay to inquire why 

 this and some other figures are inserted of the 

 "natural size"; had they been excellent of their 

 kind, we would have forgiven their intrusion. But 

 what can we say of some that are not of the 

 " natural size," except that they are very unnatural ? 

 Let our readers compare for themselves the" foot 

 of a fly," fig. 155, with the plates of the feet of 

 insects by Tuffen West, in the " Linnean Trans- 

 actions," or the well-known " tongue of blow-fly," 

 lig. 151, even with our own woodcut in an early 

 volume of this journal, and pronounce a candid 

 opinion. We venture to predict that it will not 

 be in Mr. Martin's favour. The Anopleuria 

 (figs. 163-165) should be compared with the figures 

 in Denny's Monograph, both for fidelity and 

 execution ; and as for the poor spider in fig. 167, 

 alas ! poor fellow, we pity'even a spider so badly cari- 

 catured. Some of the figures are fairly drawn, but, 

 on the whole, they are the coarsest and most unsatis- 

 factory for delicate microscopical objects that we 

 remember to have seen. If we gave way to a 

 captious spirit, we might take exception even to the 

 letter-press, but will rest content with expressing 

 our very great disappointment, and recording our 

 sympathy with the author for haviug been per- 

 suaded to venture so far beyond his powers, 

 neglectful of the consequences of" vaulting ambition 

 that o'erleaps itself." May his next venture be 

 more restricted and more successful. 



* " Microscopic Objects. Figured and described by 

 John H. Martin, Honorary Secretary to the Maidstone and 

 Mid- Kent Natural History Society. London : Van Voorst." 



THE HERMIT CRAB. 



TN order to observe some of the habits of the 

 -*- Hermit Crab, six of various sizes were placed 

 in a basin of salt-water. At first they appeared 

 dissatisfied with their artificial abode, but they soon 

 gained courage to peep from their shells, and shortly 

 afterwards began to run about and show strong 

 symptoms of a very pugnacious disposition. It so 

 happened that one was considerably too large for his 

 shell, for he could not, when disturbed, retreat en- 

 tirely inside, as the others. An empty shell of larger 

 dimensions was put into the basin, when he imme- 

 diately made for it, evidently with the intention of 

 availing himself of a change. At first he moved it, to 

 see if it was empty ; then he examined it all over, 

 thrust his nipper-claws and body as far into it as 

 possible, to ascertain its character inside, and when 

 he had satisfied/: himself on all points, he withdrew 

 from his old shell, and by a rapid scientific movement 

 introduced himself into the new. He took care, how- 

 ever, to retain firm possession of the old shell till he 

 had well tried and felt sure that he found no fault 

 with the new one ; satisfied that it fitted him, he 

 scampered off, leaving his old house to be taken 

 possession of by a fellow-crab of smaller dimensions, 

 which very soon was the case ; but it so happened 

 two crabs of much the same size took a fancy 

 to the empty shell ; the elder, however, beat the 

 younger, and secured the prize. After going through 

 the same formality of examination as the previous, 

 and apparently satisfied with the shell, yet he would 

 not venture his body out of his castle whilst his 

 antagonist was at hand. All the other crabs were 

 therefore removed, and he was left in the basin by 

 himself, in quiet possession of the empty shell. 

 When alone, he soon, by the same scientific move- 

 ment, thrust his body into his companion's cast-cfl' 

 shell ; but, from some cause or another, he was not 

 satisfied with the change, for he very soon left his 

 new for his old abode. After a little time, how- 

 ever, he re-examined the empty shell, and again 

 twisted himself into it ; and, before he had time to 

 leave his new shell, the old one was removed, when 

 he immediately began running about, evidently 

 looking for it. After a little time his old shell was 

 put into the basin, when he instantly ran to it, and 

 by a surprisingly rapid movement, once more took 

 possession of his old shell ; and though left for some 

 time in the basin with the larger shell, he could not 

 be induced again to take possession of it. The 

 lively and eccentric movements of the crabs afforded 

 much amusement to a group of young folks, who 

 evinced their pleasure by repeated and loud bursts 

 of merriment. The noise, however, seemed to have 

 no effect upon the crabs; but the slightest move- 

 ment of any of the spectators was observed, and 

 caused them to retreat for protection within their 

 shells. — A. E. Murray. 



